The rocket man

I just noted this piece of news. A farmer in Hubei Province fired improvised rockets to defend his home against the property developers who wanted to demolish his home. Because of his nerves of steel, the authorities backed down and offered him RMB750,000 (US$110,750) as compensation for vacating his land.

AFP photo

Forced eviction to pave way for property development engineered by corrupt local governments has been a constant source of social unrest in China. This rocket man’s act reveals just how both desperate and determined the victims are in defending their homes.